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While most Republicans get behind Trump, Rubio pushes back (a little)

Ledyard King, USA TODAY
Published 7:31 p.m. ET Feb. 1, 2017

In this file photo, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington.(Photo: ZACH GIBSON/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

WASHINGTON –— Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has publicly challenged Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, openly criticized aspects of the White House decision to ban refugees from certain countries, and made it clear he does not share President Donald Trump’s eagerness to cozy up to Moscow.

At a time when most GOP lawmakers are embracing Trump’s agenda, Rubio has stood out along with Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina as Republicans willing to push back a little.

Democrats staunchly opposed to Trump see a potential ally in Rubio on issues of mutual interest, particularly foreign policy.

New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez described his GOP colleague’s willingness to question some of the president’s moves as “a glimmer of hope.” And progressive activists have been picketing some of his Florida offices, hoping the senator will do more to stand up to the new president.

But Rubio, who exchanged sharp words with Trump during the presidential campaign last year, said he doesn’t view himself as an administration critic.

“My role is to do my job on behalf of the people of Florida,” he said during a brief interview Tuesday. “And under the Constitution, that involves oversight of the executive branch. I intend to vigorously pursue that whether it’s a Republican or Democratic administration. That’s my job.”

That oversight was on display last month when Rubio grilled Tillerson during his confirmation hearing before the Foreign Relations Committee. The GOP senator, known for his hawkish views on Moscow, called some of the answers Trump’s nominee gave to his questions on Russia “troubling” and “discouraging.”

Then after Trump last week issued a ban on travelers coming from seven Muslim countries, Rubio and South Carolina GOP Sen. Tim Scott jointly posted a statement on Facebook on Sunday saying that while they back additional vetting to keep the nation safe, “we are equally committed to the defense of religious liberty and our tradition of providing refuge to those fleeing persecution.”

The issue hit close to home for Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who has championed human rights.

Despite an independent streak, Rubio remains very much a conservative who’s expected to back most of Trump’s agenda, including a reduction in federal regulations, repeal of the Affordable Care Act and broad tax reform.

When the president Tuesday night unveiled Neil Gorsuch as his nominee for the Supreme Court, it took less than an hour for Rubio to issue a ringing endorsement.

And even after saying in a floor speech Tuesday night that he remains “unconvinced” Tillerson will be an advocate for human rights and democratic values, Rubio on Wednesday voted for the former ExxonMobil CEO as the nation’s chief diplomat. A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee accused Rubio of "rolling over" for Trump.

“I can’t argue that he isn’t qualified and capable of doing the job, but I had concerns that needed to be addressed and we raise them. And in the end, I had to make a decision balancing those factors,” Rubio said in the interview, adding that other State Department nominees would not be entitled to such deference.

Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat who sits with Rubio on the Foreign Relations Committee, voted against Tillerson’s confirmation. But instead of being critical of Rubio for voting for confirmation, Coons applauded his Republican colleague for raising the points he did with Tillerson when other Republicans on the committee did not.

“I know that Sen. Rubio deeply values human rights,” Coons said Tuesday. “I thought it needed to be said and I said very similar things.”